Delhi refuses visa to Reverend Graham: Protests by Christians in Nagaland
The Indian government has denied a visa to evangelical preacher Franklin Graham, son of the well-known Billy Graham, who was expected to attend an event in Kohima on 30 November. The decision has provoked harsh reactions in Nagaland, where the Naga Students' Federation denounces a ‘selective and discriminatory’ policy, especially after the relaxation of special permits for visitors who want to participate in certain cultural festivals.
Kohima (AsiaNews/Agencies) - The Indian government has denied a visa to American evangelical leader Franklin Graham, who was due to take part in an event organised by the Kohima Baptist Pastors' Fellowship on 30 November. The incident has provoked a strong wave of indignation in Nagaland, an Indian state with a Christian majority. The Naga Students' Federation (NSF) has called the decision ‘selective and discriminatory’ and described the refusal as ‘deeply offensive to the feelings of the Naga people’.
In its statement, the NSF highlighted the contradiction of the central government, which on the one hand decided to relax the requirements for obtaining a Protected Area Permit (PAP) for foreign visitors attending the Hornbill Festival, Nagaland's largest cultural event. On the other hand, however, it denied a visa to Graham, son of Billy Graham, a well-known Baptist preacher who became popular in the last century. ‘This inconsistency is indicative of a discriminatory mindset,’ the federation reiterated.
Nagaland, governed by the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) in alliance with the BJP, is one of the few Christian-majority regions in India. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio personally wrote to Home Minister Amit Shah on 28 November to urge the issuance of permits for foreign visitors during the festival.
However, Franklin Graham did not receive the green light. The preacher is considered a controversial figure due to some of his past statements. In 2010, for example, in an interview with USA Today, Graham described Hindu gods as incapable of offering salvation: "No elephant with 100 arms can do anything for me. None of their 9,000 gods will lead me to salvation. We are deluding ourselves if we think that all we need to do is organise a big kumbaya ceremony, hold hands and everything will be better in this world. It will not get better."
According to some observers, these statements, which have been repeated several times in the Indian media, have influenced Delhi's decision. But for others, it could also be a consequence of the diplomatic tensions between India and the United States that began after President Donald Trump's decision to impose very high tariffs on Indian imports. The reverend is considered close to President Donald Trump.
The central government has not provided any official explanation for the visa refusal.
However, the decision has also generated reactions within the governing coalition. On 29 November, the National People's Party (NPP), an ally of the BJP and in government in the neighbouring state of Meghalaya, asked the Foreign Minister for a review, which was never approved.
Criticism also came from the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) party, which called the visa refusal ‘blatant discrimination against the Christian community’ and ‘a direct attack on the religious freedom guaranteed by the Constitution’. According to the party, the decision is part of the ‘systematic and intolerant policies of the BJP-RSS regime,’ a reference to the ultra-nationalist Hindu party and its paramilitary youth wing.
Chief Minister Rio, who had said in recent days that he had been reassured by New Delhi that Graham would be given the green light, commented on social media: ‘We are saddened that Rev. Franklin Graham was unable to attend because his documents were not authorised in time,’ but ‘we warmly welcome Rev. Robert Cunville of @BGEA and his team, who have faithfully spread the Gospel throughout India, bringing hope, healing and transformation.’ BGEA stands for Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
Rio then renewed his criticism of the reintroduction of the PAP in the states of Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur, a measure that was adopted in December 2024 but which, according to him, hinders the possibility of hosting foreign delegations: ‘I have written several times urging the permanent revocation of the PAP in Nagaland,’ he wrote on X. ‘Foreign dignitaries and delegations face difficulties because PAPs are not granted in time, compromising their commitments and travel plans.’
The PAP, introduced in 1958, requires foreign nationals to obtain special permission to visit areas considered sensitive from a national security perspective, including much of north-eastern India, a strip of land separated from the main territory of the country and inhabited mostly by indigenous states.
The Graham case has reignited tensions between the central government and the Christian community in Nagaland, which has long accused Delhi of adopting hostile and discriminatory policies towards religious minorities. The NSF has promised that it ‘will continue to monitor and defend the rights and dignity of the Naga people.’
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27/09/2015
